Apparatus for advancing electrical cordage



Oct. 14, 1952 R. T: ADAMS ET AL APPARATUS FOR ,ADVANCING ELECTRICAL CORDAGE Original Filed Jan. 11, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS R7: ADAMS JA. WAGNER FIG.

Original Filed Jan. 11, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 s 5 m 0 2 R M N V \Y\ O E w! a; 2: WW N II I e w, W A W H HHI IIIIIII: V M E \\b\ W T W. "H Wi L A A. 1 J J W 4 Oct. '14, 1952 RTT. ADAMS ET AL 2,613,425

APPARATUS FOR ADVANCING ELECTRICAL QannAcE Original Filed Jan. 11, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG. 5

INVENTO-RS RT. ADAMS J A. WA GNER ,4 T TORNE Y Patented Oct. 14, 1952 APPARATUS'EORADVANCING ELEcTRic'AL I i CORDAGE'T" Robert/T; Adams, Ghatham, N. 1., and Julius A. Wagner; Cleveland :Heights, Ohio,- assigno'rs "to Western Electric Company, incorporated, New. Y York, N.-Y., acorporation of- New Y0rk---- Original application January 11, 1945,- SerialTN 572,414. Divided and this applicationFebruary" 24, 194%;Serial No.'i730,513 T31 11 Claii'ns swl. 28 71.5) r V V Figs '4 is a horizontalFrsectionalrviewv taken substantially alongf'theline' 44 of Fig. 3' with portionsthereof'broken awayp'" H Fig.5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 5"5' of'Fig. 4'; and v Figflfijisa fragmentary vertical 'sctional"view takensubstantially along theline'G- -B, as shown on either Fig.-3.or Fig.5;. v i

A cordage-advancingapparatus 80 (Fig. 1) ot the preferredw'embodiment' of the invention" is P1 designed to advance toa cord-forming apparatus 12, which forms thesubject matter of our above mentioned'copending "application, lcordage l5 (Fig.1); which comprisestliree separately'im sulated conductors 16," 11 and 13' having a covering'ofbraid' 1'9 thereong 'as shown most clearlv braid; fIfhis-operationisperformed in-the braidin Fig. 2,. enclosing'the threefiindividually' in- 1113 Dim cordand :When the cordageis-formedwr sulated conductorsthroughout most of its length? in this mannerait is not necessary tostripoff 9 but having the three insulated. conductors'f'lfi', the bra d ing in formingcshortezdoublee TI and 18V drawnout throu'ghthe braid"19 at ended cords -since', by severing the braid BOX/81".-

This invention relatesto apparatus-pier ad-mvancing electrical cordag e, and more particulan e -i iv to apparatus for advancing continuous elec-u tricaleordage to apparatus for formingvn ultiiconductor double-ended cords-v from the cordage;

This application is addivision of ourcopend-x 1 ing application Serial No; 5'72,414,-fileddanuary i 11, 11945, for fArtic-letForming Apparatus-" now abandonedlr r In the telephonetand likenindustries large 5.1-9 numbers of multiconductor: cordsare :-used-:-f.or interconnecting cooperating; piecesnof electrical w apparatus, In the manufacture of these-;cords it hasbeen found desirable to\braid aicontinuousawa covering on the cord andaat,measuredlintervals along the cordage, to, form, loopslin the-con-r ductors which-extend through the coveringr ofiwv predetermined intervals-which intervals deter mine:the1ength"of'the cords-tube formed. "The 'f amountthat the individual conductors 16,71 and 18 are drawn throughhthe braidfin' theprocess" U of applying the b'raid'on the conductors, will desired; lengths. v determine the length of the conductor" 'eXte'n'd-' It is an object of the-present invention to ing out at the ends'of the braidedcords after provide novelf,,and}- efficientapparatus for 'ad- 1:11 the braid 'has been severed at the pointf tvhere' vancing electrical cordage 30 the conductors extend ifrom it and' after the it In accor dancel.. with ..onehernbodimentpofathe conductors have each' beencut. The braided invention, cordageow hich has had the conductors cordage is fed to the mechanism for cutting itf looped or thrown out through its braided e.over-,: at the point where the conductorsextend from ing is fed byan advancing apparatus-41mm a it by the cordage advancing apparatus 80, which suitable supplyathereot to a severing,.and l ter:- operates in timed relation to the remain'derof minal attaching mechanisirl;v The-advancing;- the apparatus and the cordage, as it isfed tothe ppalatus includejs; afyokejwhichsslipsmvertthe 1 rest of the processingmechanismjmaybe pose" portions of, thecordagebetweenthelooped-contionedon one of a plurality ofcordage positionductors but does .not slip bver the looped-.oon-

ing plates Bl;therebeing'six'cordage positioninf ductors, andn eans for moving. the yoke toward: plates provided-in the apparatus. These-plates the severinggand terminal attaching-mechanism. are suitably supported; asWill' be described here- A completeunderstanding-Mot the invention inafter, totravel ina "circular path;"'vvhich will may be had by :reference tovthe following-dc carryithem'toa cordage 'severingstation 82;"a'rl tailed' 'description of an apparatus ,forminga inspection: andtucking station 83, a punchpres's specificprnbodiment thereofl when considered i station84; and an"unloadingstation85;: co jiliiq ll -vvith the accompamingwdrawinga: At the cordage-advancing "apparatus fim th'e where l V I cordage will he -fed onto asuitable platforfiiwfi Fig, aplan view, .partlylbrokentaway,-01? from :which'an operatorimay remove 'a' 'sectio' an en rates-embodyin t e inventiony g t of cordage and place it on a cordage-posit'ionin Fig. 2 is ajview in. perspective of a length-0ft. plate 8!, moving past the feeding'rhecharii'szh attached to them cordag upplied to the machine ,and showing withthe cordage sorpositioned'thatthe'loops the ind viduallyinsu ated co uctors thrown: out individually: insulated conductors? 16', 'T-I 'and of they cordagenat lspaced intervals;'. E extending out from it 'Wl11 be located in a m Fig. a vertical sectional ,viewtaken sub-- determined p0s1t10n on the plate, as W111 bed stantia liy along the line 3-:3ofiFigJ; 55 soribedi=morez in detail hereinafterfi The plate,

in the operation of the apparatus, will be carried around to a cordage-severing station, where the braid 19 will be cut at the point at which the conductors 16, 11 and 18 extend through it. In travelling in its circular path, the plate will next arrive at the inspection station and, in travelling to this station, the severed ends of the braid 19 will be moved apart slightly so that when the cordage-positioning plate 8I arrives at the inspection and tucking station, a mechanism may be brought into operation to tuck the surplus portions of the individual conductors down through the plate BI and locate the individual conductors in proper position to receive terminal members 9Il90 to each of the conductors 16, 11 and 18, and also to determine whether the individual conductors are properly positioned on the positioning plate.

The individual conductors 16, 11 and 18 each has two terminal members 90-90 attached to it in the punch press station 84, and, thereafter, in the same operation, the conductors 16, 11 and 18 each has a section cut fromit in the position between the formed terminal members 90-90. The terminal members 90-90 are fed to the punch press mechanism in strip form, and all of the terminal members in the strip are interconnected. In the punch press mechanism, however, the mechanism provided, in addition to attaching the terminals to the conductors I6, I1 and 18, also cuts the terminals apart so that when the cordage-positioning plates 8| move out of the punch press, the terminals will be separated one from another and will be attached to theirconductors. At the punch press station 64, S-hooks 93 partially formed and interconnected in a strip (not shown), are cut from their strip and attached to the cordage to form a supporting means. Similarly, stay bands 94 interconnected in a strip (not shown), and partially formed, are fed into the punch press, cut from their strip and attached to the cordage 15. The s-hooks 93 and stay bands 94 serve to support the cords in position in electrical apparatus without applying tension to the individual conductors and, in addition, serve to prevent unravelling of the braid 19 from the cords. After the operations on the cordage have been performed at thepunch press station, the plates 8| will move up out of the punch press station to the unloading station 85, where the completed cords may be stripped from the plates.

The main driving mechanism for the apparatus comprises a motor 96 (Fig, l) mounted upon the upper end of a housing assembly 91. The housing assembly 91 comprises a main supporting base 98 (Fig. 3) for supporting a main base casting 99. Suitably supportedon the main base casting 99 is a tubular bearing member I00, which extends up through the center of the apparat s. The motor 96 through suitable gearing (not shown) rotates a ring gear II9 fixed to the underside of a dial supporting casting I20. The dial supporting casting encircles the tubular bearing member I00 and is mounted for rotation therearound by suitable means (not shown). The casting I20 is of irregular configuration and serves to support the cordage-positioning plates in their rotation around the apparatus.

The ring gear II9 meshes with a pinion I mounted upon the end of a stud shaft I36 suitably journalled in journal members I31 and I36,

which are mounted upon a bracket I39 attached it in position to mesh with a pinion I4I fixed to a shaft I42. The shaft I42 is suitably journalled in a tubular portion I43 of the bracket I39, and carries at its left end (Fig. 3) a beveled pinion I44. The beveled pinion I44 meshes with a pinion I45 on a shaft I46, which has a sprocket I41 also fixed to it. The shaft I46 is suitably journalled in a chain guard I48 attached to the end of the tubular portion I43 of the bracket I39 and supported on a standard I49. At its upper end, the chain guard I48 supports one end of a feed chain housing I50, the other end of which is supported upon a standard I5I. Mounted in the feed chain housing I56 are two pairs of bearings I52 and I53 and I54 and I55 (Fig. 4), the bearings I52 and I53 supporting a shaft I56 and the bearings I54 and I55 supporting a shaft I51. The shaft I56 extends out through the bearing I53 and has fixed to it a sprocket I58, which is interconnected with the sprocket I41 by a chain I59. Through this driving connection, the sprocket I41 is driven at a uniform speed from the main drive mechanism of the apparatus and drives the shaft I56. The shaft I56 has attached to it a pair of sprockets I60 and I6I, which serve to drive chains I62 and I63 engaging the sprockets and supported at their left end (Fig. 4) by sprockets I64 and I65 mounted upon the shaft I51. The sprockets I64 and I65 are idlers and simply serve to support the left end (Fig. 4) of the chains I62 and IE3, which are provided with pins I66-I86 common to the two chains I62 and I53 and extending across the driving sprockets I69 and NH and the idler sprockets I64 and I65.

At spaced intervals throughout the length of the chains I62 and I63, the pins I66 have feed members or pullers designated generally by the numeral I14 pivotally mounted upon them. Each of the feed members I14 comprises, as shown most clearly in Figs. 5 and 6, a lever I15 having an upwardly extending pivot portion I16 pivoted about one of the pins I66 and having a bifurcated portion or yoke I11 adapted to extend up between two adjoining pins I66 for engaging in the notch of the yoke I11 conductors 16, TI and 18 extending out through the braid 19. The feed members I14 are mounted on the chains I62 and I63 at such a spacing that the distance between two feed members is slightly greater than'the shortest spacing between two conductor loops along the cordage. The chain drive is so timed that each portion of the cordage at which the loops emerge from the braid is deposited on the machineopposite a plate, following which the chain runs freely, without feeding additional cordage until the next feed member I14 engages the next set of conductor loops after a short free travel of the chain. In this manner, the feeding of cordage is kept in synchronism with the timing of the machine, so that one set of loops is deposited on each positioning plate, regardless of uncontrollable variations spacing of the conductor loops along the cordage.

The left end of the lever I15 ha a pair of cam rollers I18 and I19 mounted upon it, a stud shaft I extending through the lever I15 for support ing the cam rollers for free rotation with respect to the lever I15. provided a cam plate I6I, which extends across the housing and is fixed to the side walls thereof in position to support the cam rollers I18 and I19 in an elevated position, where they will hold the lever I15 with the yoke I11 thereof extending upwardly between two adjoining pins I66. This in the In the hOllSlIlg I50, there is plate I8I abuts and cooperates with a pair of cam members I82 and I83; which surround the shafts. I56 and I5] and are attached to .the side plates of thehousing I58 by extensions I84 and I85,.extending fromopposite sides of the cam members I82 and I83, respectively, to engage the side plates of the housing -I58. The cam memberI83 is so formed that a feed member I14 carried by the chains I62 and. I63 and held with its yoke lll extending through between adjoining pins I66 on the lower course of the chains will be heldin position to extend beyond the pins I66 as the feed member travels around the cam member I83 to the upper course of thechains. manner, the notch of the yoke I'lI will engage In this conductors-I6, I1 and I6 extending out through the braid 79 and will advance the cordage I5. Thecam plate [BI is sopositioned that'itwill holdthebifurcated portion III of the feed member I 14 above the tops ofthe-pins I66 on the upper; course of the chains I62 and I63'and thus the cordage I5-will be fed across the top of the cordage-advancin apparatus 88. I

Atthe right end of the feed chain housing I58 (Fig.3), it is necessary-to withdraw the bifurcated portion III of the feed member I14 from engagement with the cordage; and, accordingly,-

the cammember I82 has an auxiliary cam mem ber I86suitably attached to it for engaging the camrollers I18 and I19. to rock the feed memher I14 relative to the pin I66, on which itis pivoted. The cam member I82 is shaped tocooperate with the auxiliary cam member I86 and the rollers I18 and H9 will travel in the cam groove. IB'I defined by the cam member I82 and auxiliary cam member I86. The auxiliary cam member I86 terminates directly below the center of the shaft I56. and the cam member I82 slopes downwardly from the point .of termination of the auxiliary cam member I86 in such manner that-it will direct the free end of the feed member I14 having the bifurcated portion III thereon to a position where the bifurcated portion will extend through the chain pins I66.

At its left end (Figs. 3 and 4) the chain housing I58 is provided with a guide member I88 having a guide channel I89 extending through it,

through which cordage I5 fed from any suitable supply may be directed to a passageway (Fig; 4) j defined by the inner plates I98 and I9I and the I pins I66 extending between the chains I62 and I63. .The inner plates I98 and I9l are mounted upon-and extend downwardly from top plates I92 and I93 (Fig. 6) comprising parts'of the housing 158. The front portion of the housing I58, as. viewed in Fig. 3, is formed, as shown at I94, to facilitate the stringing of cordage I5 in the feeding mechanism 80 and the plates I98 and I9I are .extended downwardly at this portion of the apparatus to prevent the entanglement of I9I extend downwardly at the right end (Figs. 3, 4 and6) of the feeding mechanism to prevent the cordage from becoming entangled in the driving elements of the feeding mechanism.

Adjacent to the right end of the housing I56 (Fig. 3) and positioned to receive cordage fed by the feed member I14 is the platform or tray 86, which is I provided witha base I95 and an upstanding rim I96. The rim I96 extends partially around the base I95, being open at the end thereof adjacent to the position where an operator may remove cordage which has been fed onto the platformorwtray 86. The platform or tray 86 with *it'aro'und the tubular bearing memb (Fig.3); As the ringg'ear :I'I9ro tates,i

' I59 will transmit power todrivethe sprocket issuitably mounted upon the chain guard I48 and, as the cordage I5 is fed to it, cordage will, coil in rough coils onthe' platformfltf'ina in ner such that it'may be convenientlyremo therefrom and placed ona cordage-position ng. plate BI in the proper'positionof aligning-n should be noted at-this time that; as 'de hereinbefore j the feed members I14, are s'p apart a distance such that oneflengthofcordage between two pointswhere the"conductors.lexte throughthe' braided covering thereon willjb de posited on-the platform orftrayflfileabh 11m cordage-positioning plate 8 I' "in posiition adja cent'to the tray" or platform 86fto"'receivej t cordage and that an operator station'edjat portion -of the apparatus inserts the cb'rdag'e theplate 8I. Injthe operation of the cordag a'dvancing a V paratus- 88, the main driving motor 96 is started to revolvthe cordage-positionin fplates'B'I, as rotate the'ririggear I- I9. As theringgearIIBip tates, it Will carry the dial supporting. casin through pinion I and stud shaftISB, transrm power through gears I68 and MI tojsha'ft I42 (Fig-3). Shaft I42, through 'pinions I44, and I45, will'drive chain I59 and through the cha I68 and 'I6I (Fig. 4). Theendless tra'ctio mentcomp'rising the chains "I 62' and I 632MB. th

interconnecting pins I 6 6 will tl us ftravel clockwise direction around the sprockets I6 I64 and A thepinsIBB thus traivelcloc wise, the feed members or pullers 11,4; will enga' the looped-conductors "(syn and 1 8" extendi out from the braid I9fand, accordingly, will Vance the cordage across the feedjchain'h ing I58. As-the feed membersI"I4"travelacross an appreciable distance beyond thejup'per surface of the pins I66 and will thus pull the cordage I5 along with them until theyarrive imposition at the right -'end (Fig. 3) of'thej housing I5 wheretheywill be retracted by the auxiliarylca member I86.' In this manner cordagef'willb fed onto the "platform 86, frornwhich the,op ator mayremove a lengthofcordag'e equal'tbf th distance between the places on thejcordagewh e the conductors are looped througnthe'jb' covering. t r f The above-described cordage-advancing ap paratus 88' (Fig. 3) serves toadvan e the cordage I5 to the cordage-receiving tray I'96iin, perfe'c synchronism with the operationgof the'cord form ing apparatus I2. The cordage-advancing'Tep-T paratus 88 is also suitable to advance filaments] of types different from the cordage 'IS, butjhav-L' ing portions which will slip through the bifurcated portions Ill and portions which will not. slip therethrough.

What i claimed is: V 1. Apparatus for advancing continuous cordage having enlarged portions at spaced points there-, along and small portions therebetween; which comprises a member having a notch thereinof such a size as to permit the small portions of such cordage toslip therethrough and to prevent the enlarged portions from slipping therethrough, H 1 mean independent of the cordage for advanc-M ing the member along a predetermined path ,7 means for guiding the cordage into the notch in,

the member at one point in said path, and means v. for effecting withdrawal of the cordage from said g slot at a second point in said path, whereby the cordage is advanced along the portion of the path between said points.

2. Apparatus for feeding to a processing machine continuous cordage including a plurality of conductors with a continuous covering thereover and having the conductors thrown in loops through and out of the covering at points along the covering spaced equidistantly apart, which comprises an endless traction element, means for moving said element along a predetermined path in timed relationship with respect to the processing machine, a puller carried by the traction element and having a notch therein large enough to permit portions of such cordage between said points to slide therethrough and small enough to prevent a portion of the cordage at such a point from sliding therethrough, means for guiding into the notch in the puller a portion of the cordage between two of said points at a predetermined point in the travel of the puller, and means for effecting disengagement between said puller and said cordage at a second predetermined point in the travel of said puller near the machine to deliver the cordage to the machine in timed relationship with respect thereto.

3. Apparatus for feeding to a processing machine continuous cordage including a plurality of conductors with a continuous covering thereover and having the conductors thrown in loops through and out of the covering at points along the covering spaced equal predetermined distancesapart, which comprises an endless traction element, means for moving said element along a predetermined path in synchronization with the machine, a plurality of pullers carried by the tractiori'element at points spaced apart therealong a predetermined distance greater than that between two of said points on such cordage, each of said pullers having a notch therein largeenough to permit portions of such cordage between said points to slide therethrough and small enough to prevent a portion of the cordage at such a point from sliding therethrough, mean for successively guiding into the notches in the pullers portions of the cordage between said points at a predetermined point in the travel of the pullers, and means for successively effecting disengagement between said pullers and said cordage at a second predetermined point in the travel of said members near the machine to deliver looped portions of the cordage to the machime in synchronization therewith.

4. Apparatus for feeding to a processing machain, a yoke carried by the free end of the arm, a cam follower carried by the arm, and a cam track engaging the cam follower for moving the yoke through the cam follower and the arm to a position extending outwardly from the chain as the yoke is moved toward the loading point, for holding the yoke in such a position as,

the yoke is moved from the loading point to the delivery point and for withdrawing the yoke from such a position at the delivery point.

5. Apparatus for feeding to a processing machine continuous cordage including a plurality of conductors with a continuous covering thereover and having the conductors thrown in loops through and out of the covering at points along the covering spaced apart equal predetermined distances, which comprises an endless chain, means for moving the chain along a predetermined path having a loading point and a delivery point, a plurality of arms carried pivotally by the chain at points spaced along the chain distances greater than the distances that said points on such cordage are spaced apart, a plurality of yokes each carried by one of the free ends of the arms, a plurality of cam followers each carried by one of the arms, and a cam track engaging the cam follower for successively moving the yokes through the cam followers and the arms to positions extending outwardly from the chain as the yokes are moved successivel toward the loading point, for successively holding the yokes in such positions as the yokes are moved to the delivery point and for successively withdrawing the yokes from such positions at the delivery point.

6. An apparatus for advancing cordage, which comprises an endless traction element mounted for movement along a path for supporting a length of cordage on a portion thereof, means for advancing the traction element along said path, a cordage-engaging member carried by the traction element and projectable from the inside of the path to the outside of the path for engaging a length of cordage supported by the traction element to advance the cordage along the path, means for projecting the cordage-engaging member from the inside of said endless path to the outside of the path at a predetermined point in the path, means for holding the cordage-engaging member projected to the outside of the path as the member is carried from said point in the path, and means for withdrawing the cordage-engaging member to the inside of the path at a second predetermined point in the path,

7. An apparatus for advancing cordage, which comprises an endless traction element mounted for movement along a path having an upper portion and a lower portion for supporting a length of cordage on the portion thereof in the upper portion of the path, means for advancing the traction element along said path, a cordage-engaging member carried by the traction element and projectable from the inside of the path to the outside of the path for engaging a length of cordage supported by the traction element to advance the cordage along the upper portion of the path, means for projecting the cordage-engaging member from the inside of said endless path to the outside of the path at a point in the path prior to the start of the upper portion of the path, means for holding the cordage-engaging member projected to the outside of the path as the member is carried along the upper portion of the path, and means for withdrawing the cordage-engaging member to the inside of the path at the end of the upper portion of the path.

8'. An apparatus for advancing cordage, which comprises an endless traction element mounted for movement along a path, said traction element including a pair of chains spaced laterally apart and a plurality of supports for interconnecting the chains and supporting a length of cordage, means for advancing the traction element along said path, a cordage-engaging member carried by the traction element and projectable between the supports from the inside of the path to the outside of the path for engaging cordage supported by the supports to advance the cordage along the path, means for projecting the cordage-engaging member between the supports from the inside of said endless path to the outside of the path at a pre determined point in the path, means for holding the cordage-engaging member projected between the supports to the outside of the path as the member is carried from said point in the path, and means for withdrawing the cordage-engaging member between the supports to the insideof the path at a second point in the path.

9. An apparatus for advancing cordage, which comprises an endless traction element mounted for movement along a predetermined endless path for supporting a length of cordage on a portion of said path, said traction element having an opening therein, means for advancing the traction element along said path, a bifurcated member carried by the traction element and projectable through the opening in the traction element from the inside of the path to the outside of the path for engaging cordage supported by the traction element to advance the cordage along the path, means for projecting the bifurcated member through the opening in the element from the inside of said endless path to the outside of the path, means for holding the bifurcated member projected through the opening in the traction element to the outside of the path as the member is carried along a predetermined portion of the path, and means for withdrawing the bifurcated member through the opening in the traction element to the inside of the path at the end of said portion of the path.

10. Apparatus for feeding to a processing machine continuous cordage including a plurality of conductors with a continuous covering thereover and having the conductors thereof thrown in loops through and out of the covering at points along the covering spaced apart equal predetermined distances, which comprises an endless traction element mounted for movement along a path for supporting such cordage on a portion thereof, means for advancing the traction element along said path, a yoke carried by the traction element and having a notch therein large enough to permit portions of such cordage between said points to slide therethrough and small enough to prevent a portion of the cordage at such a point from sliding therethrough for advancing the cordage along the path, means for projecting the yoke from the inside of said path to the outside of the path at a predetermined point in the path, means for holding the yoke in a position projecting outside of the path as the yoke is carried from said point in the path, and means for withdrawing the yoke from the outside of the path to the inside of the path at a second predetermined point in the path.

11. Apparatus for feeding to a processing machine continuous cordage including a plurality of conductors with a continuous covering thereover and having the conductors thereof thrown in loops through and out of the covering at points along the covering spaced apart equal predetermined distances, which comprises an endless traction element mounted for movement along a path having an upper portion and a lower portion for supporting such cordage on the portion thereof in the upper portion of the path, means for advancing the traction element along the path, a puller carried by the traction element and projectable from the inside of the path to the outside of the path, said puller having a notch therein large enough to permit portions of such cordage between said points to slide therethrough and small enough to prevent a portion of the cordage at such a point from sliding therethrough for engaging the looped portions of the conductors to advance the cordage along the upper portion of the path, means for projecting the puller from the inside of the path to the outside of the path at a point therein prior to the start of the upper portion of the path, means for holding the puller projected to the outside of the path as the puller is carried along the upper portion of the path, and means for withdrawing the puller from the outside of the path to the inside of the path at a point near the end of the upper portion of the path.

ROBERT T. ADAMS. JULIUS A. WAGNER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,960,462 Swanson May 29, 1934 2,196,900 Girard et al. u Apr. 9, 1940 2,339,762 Bruestle Jan. 25, 1944 2,415,592 Hoenecke Feb. 11, 1947 2,426,169 Adams et al Aug. 26, 1947 

